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Of Venom and Vengeance
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26Prepare for a deliciously dark standalone, set in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, their empires, and the fate of a lost god.
On an island ruled by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.
Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth behind her older sister's death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows, or perhaps even hiding in plain sight.
Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief. His heart may be guarded, but his purpose is clear: retribution for his family, murdered by Inna's mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna's ruin.
But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, he proposes a deadly alliance that each desperately needs but neither intends to keep – even as bitter attraction threatens to unravel into something more.
On an island ruled by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price.
Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth behind her older sister's death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows, or perhaps even hiding in plain sight.
Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief. His heart may be guarded, but his purpose is clear: retribution for his family, murdered by Inna's mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna's ruin.
But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, he proposes a deadly alliance that each desperately needs but neither intends to keep – even as bitter attraction threatens to unravel into something more.
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 7, 2026
5 people are currently reading
11839 people want to read
About the author
Mikayla Bridge
2 books361 followersMikayla Bridge is a young adult fantasy author living in Melbourne, Australia. She grew up on a small-town farm and completed a BA with honours in political science and international relations. She loves writing books that feel like a triple espresso: high-energy, heart-racing, and might ruin your sleep schedule.
You can find her on instagram at @mikayla_bridge.
You can find her on instagram at @mikayla_bridge.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Currently reading
February 1, 2026°˖✿˚⋆I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review⋆˚✿˖°
♡pre-read♡
I LOVED Of Flame and Fury and I am so grateful to have gotten an arc for Of Venom and Vengeance. I cannot WAIT to get back into this world.
°˖✿˚⋆Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc°˖✿˚⋆
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am of a very small group of people who enjoyed the previous book (in the same universe), so I am very happy that NetGalley and the publishr allowed me another dive into this world.
On a different continent we have a city with a mafia like family who collect sprites, harvest their powers, use the powers for self or for pleasure in their gambing clubs. Run by the protagonist's mother and brother (uncle), they are feared by all. The only person she can trust is her bodyguard (who she has known from childhood and squashed a relationship with). Her elder sister was killed in kidnapping they both were involved in and she suspects there is something wrong with how it went down and that her family is withholding information.
The love interest is a living heir of a family that the mother killed long ago. Swearing revenge, and with power from the sprites, he has returned to the city and will discover the vault in which keeps his family's journal, the one that holds mysterious information about the Serpent King. Legend says he grants a wish for a price.
The author pitched this as 50's Vegas story with a slow burn romance between a thief and a heiress. I loved their romance and how it didn't seem forced. They learned to work together to get the things they wanted. There was danger, mystery, adventure, and death.
The reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is how the world building is still a little vague on how it computers exist alongside such fantasy elements. But it doesn't really detract from the story.
All in all, I really liked this and I wouldn't mind seeing them again in another story or as supporting characters with the phoenix racer plot.
On a different continent we have a city with a mafia like family who collect sprites, harvest their powers, use the powers for self or for pleasure in their gambing clubs. Run by the protagonist's mother and brother (uncle), they are feared by all. The only person she can trust is her bodyguard (who she has known from childhood and squashed a relationship with). Her elder sister was killed in kidnapping they both were involved in and she suspects there is something wrong with how it went down and that her family is withholding information.
The love interest is a living heir of a family that the mother killed long ago. Swearing revenge, and with power from the sprites, he has returned to the city and will discover the vault in which keeps his family's journal, the one that holds mysterious information about the Serpent King. Legend says he grants a wish for a price.
The author pitched this as 50's Vegas story with a slow burn romance between a thief and a heiress. I loved their romance and how it didn't seem forced. They learned to work together to get the things they wanted. There was danger, mystery, adventure, and death.
The reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is how the world building is still a little vague on how it computers exist alongside such fantasy elements. But it doesn't really detract from the story.
All in all, I really liked this and I wouldn't mind seeing them again in another story or as supporting characters with the phoenix racer plot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hi, this book was ruinous to write, and might be my new favourite.
Set in the same world as OFAF, this can be read on its own or as a companion novel. In OVAV, we're heading to Ascira, the glamorous tourism isle, full of weather magic and pretty (and not at all deadly) sprites!
This book is for you if you love:
- Lavish, illusory magic
- Star-crossed enemies
- Dual POV
- Heists!
- Bi leads and queer side characters
- Complex family dynamics
- Riddles and puzzles
- Angry girls and yearning boys
- Many knives to many throats
- Lost gods
- A 1950s Las Vegas-inspired setting
- Criminal empires
Mik 🖤🖤🖤
Set in the same world as OFAF, this can be read on its own or as a companion novel. In OVAV, we're heading to Ascira, the glamorous tourism isle, full of weather magic and pretty (and not at all deadly) sprites!
This book is for you if you love:
- Lavish, illusory magic
- Star-crossed enemies
- Dual POV
- Heists!
- Bi leads and queer side characters
- Complex family dynamics
- Riddles and puzzles
- Angry girls and yearning boys
- Many knives to many throats
- Lost gods
- A 1950s Las Vegas-inspired setting
- Criminal empires
Mik 🖤🖤🖤
February 5, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Although this story takes place in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, it’s set in a different time and location and truly works well as a stand-alone. Some prior events are lightly referenced but never confusing.
The worldbuilding around the creatures and magic was engaging, and there are multiple villains within the story. By the end, I was still trying to decide whether the humans or the gods were the bigger threat.
That said, the ending is a true cliffhanger, and I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of these characters.
Although this story takes place in the same world as Of Flame and Fury, it’s set in a different time and location and truly works well as a stand-alone. Some prior events are lightly referenced but never confusing.
The worldbuilding around the creatures and magic was engaging, and there are multiple villains within the story. By the end, I was still trying to decide whether the humans or the gods were the bigger threat.
That said, the ending is a true cliffhanger, and I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of these characters.
Want to read
December 14, 2025OH YEAHHH I'M READYYY PLS LET US SEE THE HOWLERS AGAIN #CAMEOPLS!!!! also this sounds so goooooddd already like phew this premise is hilarious a thief stealing from a crime fam? oh slayyy sign me right up
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews